Noe&#39;s Stumpcatcher

ABSTRACT

The disclosed invention is an apparatus for mooring a watercraft to a docking post or a stump, and a method of securing the watercraft to a stump. The apparatus is comprised of a hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape with a handle in the central part and a rope that has a stiffened portion housed in the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape. The method for securing a watercraft is to provide a hollow elongated docking stick that has a handle and a rope housed in it with a stiffened portion. The stiffened loop of the rope is attached to one end of a docking stick, and a flexible line portion is attached to the other end of the rope, attaching the flexible line portion of the rope to the watercraft and attaching the stiffened loop of the rope to the docking member as watercraft is pulled alongside the stump.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

This invention relates to a boat anchoring device or devices used for mooring a boat, and, more specifically, to a device that can secure or firmly clamp a boat to a remote object, such as a tree bough or a stamp in a fishing location, and in any position above or below the surface of the water.

(2) Background of Invention

There are multiple hazards to the foredeck hand that attempts to fend a moving boat off of a dock when the boat is moving too quickly to safely dock. There are also hazards involved when a person leaps from the deck of the boat to the dock and attempts to handle an approaching boat. Even in situations where all hands are safe, if the boat is traveling too fast, there is still a risk of substantial damage to either the hull of the craft or to the dock or pier in the event of a collision. Furthermore, operators of small pleasure crafts, either sail or power, have long been faced with the problem of safely and easily bringing their boats to a stop directly adjacent to a spot where they want to dock, such as a pier or piling, and then mooring or securing the boat thereto with suitable mooring lines. It is particularly difficult to maneuver a small sailboat without power, or even a small powerboat with only a single engine, in close quarters at slow speeds because steerage is severely limited.

In many instances, docking requires the presence of a person on the dock to either receive a line thrown from the boat, or to throw a line to someone on the deck of the boat to assist in bringing the boat safely to the dock. Also, the process of docking or mooring a boat generally requires that a docking or mooring line be thrown from the boat to dock personnel. The dock personnel must then secure the end of the line to a mooring piling or dock cleat while a crewmember or person on the boat pulls on the opposite end to shorten the distance between the boat and the dock as the boat driver guides the boat toward the dock. Frequently, the person reaching for the pier falls into the water, which can be fatal. Likewise, a common method used in docking or mooring a boat is to form a loop in the end of the docking line and then throw the looped end of the docking line toward the intended mooring target, such as a mooring piling or a dock cleat.

In many instances, a crewmember or person on the boat positions himself/herself close to the bow of the boat, and then either reaches over the side of the boat to drape the loop over the mooring target, or attempts to throw the loop over the mooring target. Reaching beyond the side of the boat can be both dangerous and uncomfortable, and throwing the loop requires skill in throwing ropes and capturing the mooring target. Acquiring said skills may take considerable time and be frustrating, and more often than not results in failure, particularly when the boat is moving.

Furthermore, many boats are equipped with boat hooks, which are long handled devices with which one can grapple for either the pier or the piling, and/or fend the boat off the pier. However, it is common for the end of the boat hook to slip off of the piling or the pier, causing the boat to hit the pier or piling with great force. This contact with the pier is undesirable; not only from a point that the paint of the boat may be scratched and removed, but also because the boat structure itself can be damaged. In general, the prior art provides a loose line that one can either cast or throw to someone on the dock, or attempt to loop around a projecting pylon or piling, and thereby have a means for securing the boat. However, a loose line provides no means for fending the boat off of the pier or pilings if the boat is moving at too high a rate of speed. It is also very inconvenient to hold the end of the line in hands and throw at the same time. It is desirable to have a means that is simple and effective, and that can be used by inexperienced person to secure a boat to a location that is clamped to an object or a stamp.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is a device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post. The invention is comprised of a convenient to use hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape with a curved end connected to an armrest and rope dispenser for pulling the rope out of pole, and a rope housed in the hollow elongated pole. The rope has two members: a stiffened member made of a strong material, such as metal, and a non-stiffened member made of heavy duty, lightweight material, such as nylon. One end of the stiffened metal member of the rope is attached by one end to the open end of the pole. Only the stiffened member forms the loop that protracts from the open end of the pole only. The stiffened member is attached by its other end to the non-stiffened member inside of the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape. On the other end, the pole curves into an armrest with a dispenser for the rope. The armrest is a trapezoid-like shape connected to the open curved end of the pole. The armrest is positioned around the user's arm and the trapezoid shape assures contact of the user's arm with the device. At the opposing end of the armrest the there is a dispenser with a hole for the rope attached for the user's convenience: the rope can be moved back and forth by the user to change the size of the loop.

The rope for mooring a watercraft to a docking post extends from the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape through the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape.

The user must attach the flexible line member of the rope to the watercraft and attach the stiffened loop of the rope to the docking area so that the watercraft may be pulled alongside the stump.

Furthermore, the method of securing a watercraft to a stump includes the additional step of anchoring the watercraft at a position that will effectively keep the watercraft stationary.

The summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified form, that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the subject matter.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description, and should not be regarded as limiting.

These, together with other objects of the invention and along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification, and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that, in some instances, various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a representative sample of a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

For the sake of simplicity and to give the claims of this patent application the broadest interpretation and construction possible, the conjunctive “and” may also be taken to include the disjunctive “or,” and vice versa, whenever necessary to give the claims of this patent application the broadest interpretation and construction possible. Likewise, when the plural form is used, it may be taken to include the singular form, and vice versa.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element.

The disclosure herein is not limited by construction materials to the extent that such materials satisfy the structural and/or functional requirements. For example, any material may be used so long as it satisfies the rigid structural and functional requirements for which it is being used. In one embodiment, the device and/or system is steel or a similar metal or alloy; however, polymeric material of sufficient strength and rigidity will suffice as well.

The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention that are depicted in the accompanying drawings. The example embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

This invention provides an easy and convenient means to anchor a boat in a position by hooking a looped rope onto an exposed stump or protruding object. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a means for anchoring a boat in a position that will effectively keep a vessel stationary. According to the invention, an innovative device is used to anchor a boat, or any vessel capable of floating on the water's surface, to a position by hooking a looped rope onto an exposed stump or protruding object. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1, the device is comprised of a rope 1 housed in a hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape 2. One end of the rope comes out of the pole and is attached to the first end of the pole. The second end of the pole 3 curves into an armrest of a trapezoid-like shape 4. Another end of the rope comes out of the dispenser 5 attached to the armrest 5. The looped rope protracts from the hole of the pole in the first end and forms a loop 6. According to this embodiment, the device can be available in three different sizes, 3 ft., 4 ft., and 5 ft., which are made of a heavy-duty, lightweight, conduit material. Furthermore, according to the same embodiment, the rope can be made of a solid nylon strand that is approximately 30 ft. in length and ⅜″ in diameter and has a breaking strength of 2500 lb. Also, the rope extends from the handle of the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape through the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape. Moreover, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, to use the device initially a user must extend the looped rope 6 wide enough to fit over the object where the floating vessel needs to dock. This is done by pulling one side of the looped rope, which will open up the loop to the desired size. After the user has looped the object, the user must hold the pole in one hand and pull the rope 1 at the base of the rope with the other hand, which will tighten the loop in place around the object. The pole can be made of synthetic plastic polymer, such as PVC pipes.

Furthermore, according to the same embodiment, the non-stiffened member of the rope can be made of a solid nylon strand that is approximately 30 ft. in length and ⅜″ in diameter and has a breaking strength of 2500 lb. The stiffened member of the rope can be made of metal. The stiffened and non-stiffened members can be attached by a connection means. Also, the rope extends from the handle of the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape through the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape. Moreover, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, to use the device initially a user must extend the looped rope 6 wide enough to fit over the object where the floating vessel needs to dock. This is done by pulling one side of the looped rope, which will open up the loop to the desired size. After the user has looped the object, the user must hold the pole in one hand and pull the rope 1 at the base of the rope with the other hand and position his another arm on the armrest 4, which will tighten the loop in place around the object.

The current invention is a device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post on a dock. It is comprised of a hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape with a handle in the central part of the device and a rope that has a stiffened member and is housed in the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape. However, the rope in the device is attached to one end of the hollow elongated pole for encircling the docking post as the boat approaches the dock. The flexible line member of the rope is made of heavy duty, lightweight, conduit material. The device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post on a dock has a hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape, wherein the rope is made of heavy duty, lightweight, conduit material. Moreover, the rope for mooring a watercraft to a docking post extends from the handle of the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape through the hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a method of securing a watercraft to a stump. The method is to provide a hollow elongated docking stick that has a handle and a rope housed in it. The rope has a stiffened member, and the stiffened loop of the rope is attached to one end of the docking stick. There is also a flexible line member that is attached to the other end of the rope. One must attach the flexible line member of the rope to the watercraft and attach the stiffened loop of the rope to the docking area so that the watercraft may be pulled alongside the stump.

Furthermore, the method of securing a watercraft to a stump includes the additional step of anchoring the watercraft at a position that will effectively keep the watercraft stationary.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post on a dock, said device comprising: a hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape with an opened first end and an opened curved second end, a rope housed in said hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape, wherein said rope consists of a non-stiffened member made of nylon connected to a stiffened member made of metal, a loop formed by said stiffened member attached by one end to said open first end of said pole and attached to said non-stiffened member by another end, wherein said loop protracts from said open first end of said pole, a user's armrest with a first end and second end, wherein said rest is connected to said first end to said opened curved second end of said pole, and a dispenser attached on the surface of said user's armrest at said second end of said rest, wherein said dispenser has a hole for protracting said second non-stiffened member of said rope.
 2. The device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post on a dock, according to claim 1, wherein said non-stiffened member is made of ¾ inch nylon.
 3. The device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post on a dock, according to claim 1, wherein said hollow elongated pole of cylindrical shape is made of heavy duty and lightweight synthetic plastic polymer.
 4. The device for mooring a watercraft to a docking post on a dock, according to claim 1, wherein said user's armrest is in said trapezoid-like shape for positioning the user's arm.
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled) 